Burnt Orange Report

Now, Republicans want to reward him for his loyalty with Martin Frost's seat, by disenfranchising minority voters in Dallas and Tarrant Counties.

C'mon, Byron: "...by disenfranchising minority voters in Dallas and Tarrant Counties."? What sort of non sequitir is that?

Are we now to the point that minorities must be represented by Democrats, or by definition they have been "disenfranchised"?

I thought you were smarter than to believe all Republicans are "racist, ignorant and destructive fools."

Mark, I'm not the one that said that Republicans are "racist, ignorant and destructive fools". Don't put words in my mouth. Andrew is welcome to say that for himself, I'll speak for myself. Thank you very much....

First off, I'm happy to see that the GOP maps so far this session do not retrogress minority voting rights in the 10th, 24th or 25th congressional districts. I do think that there are potential racial retrogression in the splits in Jefferson and McClennan Counties, which could be a problem causing Voting Rights Act challenges.

Now, I don't say that minorities must be represented by Democrats. I've said that minorities tend to vote Democratic, especially in this state. By dividing minority communities, as many of the previous maps did to the minority communities in Austin, Dallas and Houston specifically, the voice of the minority communities was either packed into a small number of congressional districts (for example the 30th in Dallas), or dilluted into multiple districts (as was the case with many Blacks and Hispanics in Dallas and Tarrant Counties - current 24th - under many of the GOP maps). Many of the maps punish communities of interest simply for voting Democratic (including majority White areas such as central Austin). Now, thats redistricting for you, and it happens all the time (and I won't go into the unprecidented nature of mid-decade redistricting) except that we have this thing called the Voting Rights Act which prevents minority voices from being packed and dilluted. If that's racist Mark, then I'm sorry.

Mark, I'm not the one that said that Republicans are "racist, ignorant and destructive fools". Don't put words in my mouth. Andrew is welcome to say that for himself, I'll speak for myself. Thank you very much....

Whoa - if you re-read my post, you'll see that I am definitely referencing ANDY as the source for that crude remark, and professing my certainty that you have proven yourself incapable of resorting to such ad hominem attacks. Thus, I thought you were smarter than to believe all Republicans are "racist, ignorant and destructive fools."

But I will try to ensure less possibility for ambiguity. My apologies if you felt I had directed an ugly remark at YOU.

By dividing minority communities, as many of the previous maps did to the minority communities in Austin, Dallas and Houston specifically, the voice of the minority communities was either packed into a small number of congressional districts (for example the 30th in Dallas), or dilluted into multiple districts (as was the case with many Blacks and Hispanics in Dallas and Tarrant Counties - current 24th - under many of the GOP maps).

This is, indeed, a more subtle statement regarding the concerns of minority voters in the redistricting process. However, I still feel you preemptively assume that minority interests completely coincide with the Democratic Party, and differ from the Republican Party. Thus, you "prejudge" both minorities and Republicans. I don't think historical voting patterns necessarily prove that presumption of joint interest.

In any case, as Beldar has consistently pointed out, the mandatory review of the map under the VRA will ensure that no minority voting rights are impacted.

This is your post in its entirety - You DID specifically say "C'mon, Byron" - U R addressing Byron.

Now, Republicans want to reward him for his loyalty with Martin Frost's seat, by disenfranchising minority voters in Dallas and Tarrant Counties.
C'mon, Byron: "...by disenfranchising minority voters in Dallas and Tarrant Counties."? What sort of non sequitir is that?
Are we now to the point that minorities must be represented by Democrats, or by definition they have been "disenfranchised"?
I thought you were smarter than to believe all Republicans are "racist, ignorant and destructive fools."
Posted by Mark Harden at September 15, 2003 08:24 PM